Monday 16 March 2009 08.39 EDT
First published on Monday 16 March 2009 08.39 EDT

When it comes to changing our driving habits, money talks. Last year it took high oil prices to reduce the amount we drive, and now a survey today suggests we're buying greener cars because of the recession. Nearly half (42%) of drivers said their next car will have lower CO2 emissions than their current one, according to the poll by Auto Trader. Over half (51%) said they'd consider buying a greener car, 61% wanted higher taxes for gas-guzzlers and 40% of the 2,000 respondents are contemplating buying a hybrid.

The key "finding" for me, however, is that price is still the deciding factor when people research a new car: 85% cited it as the most important factor. That chimes with my own recent experience of buying a car.

I wanted the greenest I could afford, but that turned out to be a diesel Ford Focus that spits out 127g/CO2 every kilometre compared to the 104g/CO2 km the Prius emits. Although there's a healthy second-hand market for the Prius, to get one with a fairly low mileage - say, 20,000 miles from three years of driving - will cost you at least £7,500. And that's probably just a little too much for most people buying a family car.

Pretty much any family-sized vehicle that falls into the lowest two CO2 tax bands comes with an upfront price premium because it will either feature hybrid technology or major efficiency changes to body shape and tyres, such as on Ford's £16,845 ECOnetic Focus. Most people, like me, will end up buying a car that emits more than 120g/CO2 km, which will also cost them £85 a year more in road tax (vehicle excise duty).

Cheaper green cars are coming, such as the hybrid Honda Insight for £15,490, available from 1 April. But the lag for today's efficient models, such as VW's Bluemotion range and Ford's ECOnetic marque, means they won't be affordable on the used car market for several years.

Unless money's no object for you, price is everything when buying a new car. What about your experience? Have you found any good places to pick up low CO2 cars on the cheap? What models have you seen going for a song?